Page 62 of Giovanni
I chuckle, feeling slightly uneasy at her compliment. This is what used to trip me up before. The mixed signals, but now that I have my girl, it just makes me uncomfortable.
“Thanks, I try my best.”
I raise my smoothie as a sort of salute, thinking I could drink it on the way home to clean up before reaching out to Kacie to make plans tonight.
“Well, have a good workout.”
Her eyes linger on me for a moment.
“Actually, Gio, could we talk somewhere private for a moment? It’s a bit personal.”
Internally, I brace myself.
Is she facing some personal crisis? Does she need advice or help with something? The role of a trainer often extends beyond physical guidance. Sometimes, we are dieticians advising about proper nutrition or confidants unwittingly drawn into ourclients’ lives and struggles. Yet, as I stand there waiting, I can’t shake off a slight undercurrent of apprehension.
“Please?”
The plea for help in her voice is unmistakable. I shake my head to clear my worrisome thoughts.
“Of course. I’ll follow you.”
With my snack in one hand and my smoothie in another, I follow her as she leads us toward the back of the gym. As we retreat to the hallway leading to the racquet and basketball courts, the clamor of the gym recedes, leaving me with a heavy feeling of apprehension. Jenna’s steps are hesitant, her usual confidence replaced by an uncharacteristic vulnerability. She pauses, takes a deep breath, and turns to face me, her eyes searching mine.
“Gio, I’ve been struggling with something and don’t know who else to turn to.”
Her voice is nervous as she stacks one foot on the other. Concerned, I set my snack and smoothie on a nearby towel service cabinet.
“Whatever it is, you can tell me. Is everything okay?”
I’m curious about the sudden change from her happy demeanor last week when she told Marco and me how great her holidays were. I remember feeling sad about her engagement before meeting Kacie.
The vision of her in my bed, underneath me, wearing nothing but a smile, sends a wave of warmth through my body and calms my brain. She nods slowly, her fingers absently playing with the edge of her workout top.
“It’s the engagement. I’m not sure I want to go through with it. I feel so lost and don’t know what to do.”
Her whispered confession has my mouth dropping, then quickly recovering when tears form in her eyes. I’m at a loss forwords. Having never gotten close to being engaged and never asking someone who accepted, I’m treading water here.
“I’m sorry.”
My brain locks on the only words that come to mind, even if they don’t seem enough when the tears drip down her face. She quickly wipes them away, looking down the hallway to compose herself before looking back at me. I run a nervous hand through my hair, the sweat collecting on my palm when it hits the back of my neck.
“And . . .” she hesitates, biting her lip. “There’s more.”
Okay.
I steel myself against the serious tone in her voice. It’s clear it’s serious. Wiping my sweaty hand down the front of my gym shirt, I let it rest on my hips, preparing for what she’s about to say.
“I’ve. . . I’ve developed feelings. For someone else.”
Her eyes lift to meet mine, filled with something unspoken. A deep uneasiness forms in my gut, a dread climbing into my throat with the way she’s looking at me.
“I don’t understand.”
She steps closer, her fingers releasing her shirt.
“It’s you, Gio. I’ve got feelings for you.”
Me?
